Pres. Duterte Releases P29-M Initial Compensation Promised to Farmers Affected by Bird Flu

Poultry farmers in San Luis Pampanga and the towns of Jaen and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija all have reason to rejoice today as President Rodrigo gave the assurance that the initial amount of Php 29 million will be released to them as compensation for the chickens, ducks and quails killed as part of the clean-up operations against the Bird Flu virus outbreak that hit the town last week.

The announcement confirming the release of the remuneration for the farmers was made today during President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to San Fernando, Pampanga, another town that was hit hard by the outbreak.

In order to reassure consumers that the poultry products from the town are now safe for consumption, the president led poultry farmers and local officials in a “boodle fight” that consisted of balut, fried duck, and chicken barbecue.

Initially, reports of the death of about 37,000 poultry animals led to laboratory tests that confirmed the presence of the Avian Influenza virus in San Luis, Pampanga 18 days ago and then subsequently in the neighboring towns of Jaen and San Isidro, Nueva Ecija as well.

The Bureau of Animal Industry’s Avian Influenza Task Force, in order to contain the spread of the virus, quarantined the above-mentioned areas and culled a total of 667, 184 ducks, chickens and quails all within the 1-kilometer radius of the affected farms.

The three towns have since then been announced cleared and disinfection operations have also been finished.

The initial Php 29 million released today includes P20, 723, 797 for the poultry farmers of San Luis Pampanga as well as four more farms in Jaen and San Isidro, Nueva Ecija. This is the first half of the Php 43.31 million compensation that the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has promised to release to the heavily affected farmers in the area.

In addition to this, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council or ACPC will also turn over Php 20 million to the Rural Bank of San Luis as assistance to the affected poultry farmers and workers as well as no collateral, no interest loans.

This is the first time in years that the Avian Flu has heavily affected the Philippines again. The last time was in 2005.

President Rody Duterte is expected to extend further assistance soon in order to help the country’s poultry industry get back on its feet.

Source: MannyPiñol